Method of making isocyanatoalkyl-substituted silanes

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for making various nitrogen-containing organosilicon compounds, such as silylorganoisocyanates, the corresponding carbamate and isocyanurates. The method involves contacting silylorganohalide and a metal cyanate in the presence of a suitable aprotic solvent. Nitrogen-containing organosilicon compounds are provided having silicon and nitrogen atoms separated by a divalent hydrocarbon radical. In instances where a urethane is desired, an appropriate aliphatic monohydric alcohol can be utilized in combination with the silylorganohalide and metal cyanate. The subject nitrogen-containing organosilicon compounds can be utilized for making silicon-organic copolymers and as treating agents for imparting water repellency to various substrates.

United States Patent [72} Inventor Abe Berger Schenectady, N.Y. [21] Appl. No. 870,717 [22] Filed Aug. 15, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 21, 1971 [73] Assignee General Electric Company Division of Ser. No. 669,298, Sept. 20, 1967, Pat. No. 3,494,951.

[54] METHOD OF MAKING ISOCYANATOALKYL- SUBSTITUTED SILANES 3 Claims, No Drawings [52] US. Cl ..260/448,2 N,

260/4488 R, 260/4482 E [51] Int. Cl C07f 7/10, C07f 7/18 [50] Field of Search 260/4488 R, 448.2 E, 448.2 N; 669/298 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,417,115 12/1968 Stamm ..260/44 8.2NX

2/1969 Kanner ..260/448.2NX 3,494,951 2/1970 Berger 260/448.2N

ABSTRACT: A method is provided for making various nitrogen-containing organosilicon compounds, such as silylorganoisocyanates, the corresponding carbamate and isocyanurates. The method involves contacting silylorganohalide and a metal cyanate in the presence of a suitable aprotic solvent. Nitrogen-containing organosilicon compounds are provided having silicon and nitrogen atoms separated by a divalent hydrocarbon radical. ln instances where a urethane is desired an appropriate aliphatic monohydric alcohol can be utilized in combination with the silylorganohalide and metal cyanate. The subject nitrogen-containing organosilicon compounds can be utilized for making silicon-organic copolymers and as treating agents for imparting water repellency to various substrates.

3ilylisocyanates involved the direct reaction between a halosilane and a metal cyanate. For example. Klein Pat. No. 2.532.559 shows the use of lead cyanate with dimethyldichlorisilane to produce dimethyldiisocyanatosilane. Those skilled in the art know that such silylisocyanates are hydrolytically unstable because the isocyanate radical is directly attached to silicon. Speier Pat. No. 3.l70.89l shows a method for making silylorganoisocyanates having the silicon atom and the isocyanate radical separated by a divalent hydrocarbon radical. Reaction is effected between a silicon hydride and an olel'tnically unsaturated isocyanate. such as allylisocyanate. Experience has shown that although the silylorganoisocyanates made by Speiers method. having a silicon-carbon bond. instead of a silicon-nitrogen bond. have improved hydrolytic stability. the method of Speier is undesirable for a variety of reasons. For example. it has been found that silicon hydride addition of a silane to an olefinically unsaturated isocyanate. where the silicon has reactive radicals, such as alkoxy attached to silicon, often results in undesirable side reactions between the alkoxy radicals and isocyanate radicals. in addition. Speiers method is economically unattractive because of the expense of olefinically unsaturated isocyanates. such as allylisocyanate.

The present invention is based on the discovery that silylorganoisocyanates of the formula.

l );..,R'..SiR"NCO can be made by effecting the pyrolysis of the corresponding carbamate as shown by the following equation.

l (ROM RQSHV'NHiJOI-lt formula (lH-ROH where R is an alkyl radical having from I to 8 carbon atoms. R is selected from monovalent hydrocarbon radicals. and halogenated monovalent hydrocarbon radicals. R" is selected from divalent hydrocarbon radicals and halogenated divalent hydrocarbon radicals. and a is a whole number equal to from 0 to 3. inclusive. i

There is provided by the present invention. a method for making silylorganoisocyanates of formula (l). which comprises l heating a silylorganocarbamate of the formula.

to a temperature which is sufficient to produce a mixture consisting essentially of (A) said silylorganocarbamate. (B) said silylorganoisocyanate of formula (I). and (C) an aliphatic monohydric alcohol. (2) continuously distilling said mixture of l) to provide for the continuous separation of overhead product consisting essentially of (B) and (C) and (3) recovering (B) from said overhead product of(2). where R. R and a are as previously defined.

The present invention also is directed to silylorganocarbamates ofthe formula (2). which can be made by l effecting reaction between a silylorganohalide. a metal cyanate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of an aprotic solvent. as shown by the following equation. (RO),...R'..SiR"X +ROH+M(NCO), formula(2)+MX. (2)separating metal salts from the resulting mixture of l) and (3) stripping the aprotic solvent from the resulting mixture of (2). where R.

R'and R" are as defined above. X is a halogen radical. M is a metal. and y is the valence of the metal.

Radicals included by R of the above formulae are. for example. alkyl radicals. such as methyl. ethyl. propyl. butyl. pentyl. hexyl. heptyl. and octyl. Radicals included by R are. for example. aryl radicals and halogenated aryl radicals. such as phenyl. chlorophenyl. xylyl. napthyl. etc.. aralkyl radicals such as be zyl. phenylethyl. etc.. alkyl radicals such as methyl. ethyl. propyl. hexyl. etc.. haloalkyl radicals such as chloropropyl. difluoropropyl. bromobutyl. etc.. alkenyl radicals such as inyl. allyl. l-propenyl. etc.. cycloaliphatic and haloaliphatic radicals such as cyclobutyl. cyclopentyl. eyelohexyl. etc. Radicals included by R" are. for'example. alkylene radicals and haloalkylene radicals such as methylene. ethylene. trimethylene. butylene. pentyle ne. halobutylene. etc.. arylenealkylene such as -C,H.CH,-. etc. In the above formulae. where R. R and R" can be more'than one radical. these radicals can be all the same. or any two or more of the aforementioned radicals.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for making isocyanurates of the formula.

N (a) QNNQ 0=e-N- =N where Q is (RO),...R'SiR"'-. which comprises (l) effecting reaction between (RO),,,.R'..SiR"X and M(NCO), in the presence of an aprotic solvent(2) removing metal salts from the resulting mixture of l and (3) stripping said aprotic solvent from the resulting product of (2 Included by the silylorganoisocyanates of the formula (I) are. for example. trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate. phenyldiethoxysilypropylisocyanate. methyldimethoxysilylbutylisocyanate. ethoxydimethylsilylbutylisocyanate. etc. Some of the silylorganocarbamates of formula (2). are. for example. methyl N-trimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate. ethyl N-methyldimethoxysilylpropylcarbarnate. ethyl N-triethoxysilylbutylcarbamate. methyl N-phenylmethylmethoxysilylpropylcarbamate. etc.

Alkylhalosilanes which can be utilized in the practice of the invention are. for example. chloropropyltrimethoxysilane. bromopropyltrimethoxysilane. I chlorobutyldimethylethox' ysilane. chloropropyltriethoxysilane. chloropropylmethyldimethoxysilane.' chlorobutylphenylmethyl n-propoxysilane. iodopropyltrimethoxysilane. etc. Metal cyanates which can be employed in the practice of the invention. are for example. lithium cyanate. spdium cyanate. potassium cyanate. rubidium cyanate. barium cyanate. strontium cyanate. silver cyanate. lead cyanate. mercury cyanate. calcium cyanate. etc.

Some of the isocyanurates which are included by formula (3) are. for example. l.3.5-tris(trimethoxysilylpropyl)isocya nurate. l.3.5-tris(methyldimethoxysilylpropyl)isocyanurate. I .3.5tris(dimethylethoxysilylbutyl )isocyanurate 1.3 .5- tris( phenylmethylmethoxysilylpropyl)isocyanurate. etc.

The silylorganoisocyanates of formula l can be employed as caulking compounds .when exposed to atmospheric moisture. They also can be used to polymerize hydroxylated organic polymers such as polyethers and polyesters. The silylorganocarbamates of formula (2) can be used as glass sizing materials. metal protectants. etc. Among the uses of the isocyanurates of formula (3) are as adhesion promoters for room temperature vulcanizing compositions. as shown in my copending application (BOW-450). filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

in preparing the silylorganocarbamates of formula (2). the silylorganohalide. aliphatic monohydric alcohol and metal cyanate are mixed together in a suitable aprotic solvent. Alcohols which can be employed are. for example. methyl alcohol. ethyl alcohol. n-propyl alcohol. n-butyl alcohol and other alcohols having from I to 8 carbon atoms. A suitable aprotic solvent is a solvent for the various ingredients required in the practice of the invention. which have no active protons which may interfere with the formation of desired product. Examples of aprotic solvents which can be employed in the practice of the invention are preferably. for example. dim thylformamide. dimethylacetamide. N-methylpyrolidoae. diethylacetamide. and diethylformamide. In addition. solvents such as ethers. nitriles and ester. are operative. such as for example. ethyleneglycoldimethylether. diethyleneglycoldimethylether. triethyleneglycoldimethylether. and tetraethyleneglycoldimethylether. benzonitrile, ethyl benzoate. tributylphosphate. etc. The order of addition of the various reactants is not critical. ln order to avoid undesirable losses of reactants. as well as provide for optimum yields of desired product. substantially equal molar amounts of the various reactants. for example. silylorganohalide alcohol. metal cyanate. etc. canbe employed even though excesses. such as up to molar excesses of any of the. reactants. will not adversely affect the formation of desired product. In instances where a metal cyanate of a polyvalent metal is employed. sufficient metal cyanate should be utilized to provide for at least one mole of cyanate. per mole of silylorganohalide.

After the various ingredients have been mixed together. the resulting mixture can be brought to reflux to initiate the reaction. Experience has shown that a temperature in the range of between 90C. to M0 C. will generally provide for effective results. Reaction times of from 3 hours to 8 hours will be required depending upon the type and nature of the various reactants employed. and the temperature utilized during the reaction. One indication of carbamate formation is the rise in r the reflux temperature as the urethane starts to form. lf 7 desired. a vapor phase chromatograph of the reaction mixture can be taken to confirm the disappearance of starting silyloganohalide and the appearance of the silylorganocarba-v proper adjustment of the reflux ratio. there can be achieved continuous cracking of the silylorganocarbamate. and continuous separation of the silylorganoisocyanate as an overhead product. The cracking temperature of the silylorganocarbamate and the proper reflux ratio can be best determined by initially bringing the silylorganocarbamate to reflux in a suitable fractionating column under reduced pressure. while providing for the continuous separation of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol.

Experience has shown that if the silylorganocarbamate is heated too rapidly. i.e.. without proper reflux control to provide for the separation of overhead product and return of silylorganocarbamate. isocyanurate of formula (3) can be formed along with isocyanate of formula (1 l'avoid formation. careful control of the reflux of the silylorganocarbamate must be observed.

The preferred method ofmaking the isocyanurate of formula (3) is by heating a mixture of the silylorganohalide and metal cyanate and an aprotic solvent to a temperature between 100 C. -250 C. and preferably l30 -l60 C.. in the absence of the aliphatic monohydric alcohol. Prior to stripping the isocyanurate of aprotic solvent. removal of metal salts from the mixture has been found expedient.

In order that those skilled in the art may be better able to practice the invention. the following examples are given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. All parts are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 A dimethylformamide solution of a mole of chloropropyltrimethoxysilane. l.2 moles of potassium cyanate and 2 moles of methanol was heated to reflux. The solution consisted of two parts of solvent. per part of the total weight of reactants.

The mixture was refluxed for a period 'of 6 to 8 hours. The

temperature of the mixture gradually climbedfrom C. to C. A vapor phase chromatograph of the mixture showed almost the complete absence of the chloropropyltrimethoxysilane. The mixture was refluxed for an additional 2 hours The mixture was then allowed to cool-and'it was filtered. The solvent was then flashed distilled. The resulting material was then fractionated. There was obtained an 85 percent yieie of a product having a boiling point of 90 C. at l.4 mm. Hq. Based on method of preparation and its infrared spectrum. the product w: methyl N-trimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate.

Methyl N-trimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate is applied to glass fibers by spraying them with a 2 percent'methanol solution. The treated fibers are then heated in contact with a sheet of silicone rubber under pressure. A glass reinforced rubber composite is produced. 7

EXAMPLE 2 There was heated to l60 C.. ll9 parts of methyltrtmcthoxysilylpropylcarbamate. A vacuum of 1 mm. was maintained EXAMPLE 3 A mixture of 40parts of chloropropyltrimethoxysilane. 50 pans of anhydrous dimethylformamide and 16.2 parts of potassium cyanatewas heated to 130 C. at atmospheric Pressure. After heating for 4 hours a vapor phase chromatograph showed the complete absence of the original starting material.

The reaction mixture was then allowed to cool and it was filtered. It was then stripped of solvent. The resulting product was distilled at 236 C. at 0.2 mm. HgJThere was obtained 35 parts of productwhich represented a yield of about 86 percent based on the .starting reactants. Based on its method of preparation and its infrared spectrum. the product was l.3.5- tris( trimethoxysilylpropyl )isocyanurate.

EXAMPLE 4 distilled at 22l C. at 0.25 mm. Hg. Basedon its method of j preparation and its infrared spectrum. the product was 1.3.5- tris(dimethoxymethylpropyl)isocyanurate.

EXAMPLE 5 A reaction mixture consisting-of 36.4 parts ofchloropropylmethyldimethoxysilane.- 17 parts of potassium cyanate. 6.4

parts of anhydrous propanol and 75 parts of dry dimethylformarnide is allowed to reflux at atmospheric pressure under a dry atmosphere. The reflux temperature rises from 90 C. to C. for a period of about 6 hours. A vapor phase chromatograph shows complete absence of starting material and appearance of a new peak. A product is recovered following the procedure of example 1. it is propyl N-dimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate, based on its method of preparation and its infrared spectrum.

Propyl N-dimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate is then heated under reduced pressure and fractionated. Propanol is collected in a dry ice trap. A second product distills overhead. Based on its method of preparation and its infrared spectrum showing a strong absorption band at 4.58 microns, the product is methyldimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate.

EXAMPLE 6 A carbamate reaction mixture of 29.2 parts of p-phenyldimethoxysilychloromethylbenzene, 1l.l parts of barium cyanate, 5 parts of methanol and 75 parts of N-methylpyrolidone is heated to reflux. The p-phenyldimethoxysilychloromethylbenzene is prepared by initially reacting one mole of p-telymagnesium chloride with two moles of phenyltrichlorosilane in tetrahydrofuran at a temperature between 40 c. -60 C. The resulting phenyl, p-tolyl substituted dichlorosilane is thereafter chlorinated in the presence of ultraviolet light and alkoxylated with methanol in the presence of pyridine,

The course of the above described carbamate reaction is followed with a vapor phase chromatograph. At the completion of the reaction, the mixture is allowed to cool and filtered of salts. The solvent is removed by flash distillation. Based on method of preparation, there is obtained methylN-4 dimethoxyphenylsilylbenzyl carbamate.

While the foregoing examples have of necessity been limited to only a few of the very many variables within the scope of the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention covers a much broader class of silylor ganocarbamates as shown by formula (2 and methods for making the corresponding isocyanates of formula 1 and isocyanurates of formula (3 What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A method for making silylorganoisocyanates of (RO) ,,R' ,SiR"NCO which comprises, l) heating a silylorganocarbamate of the formula (RO) ,,,R',aSiR" NHCOR, where R is a member selected from the class consisting of monovalent hydrocarbon radicals and halogenated monovalent hydrocarbon radicals R is selected from the class consisting of divalent hydrocarbon radicals and a is a whole number equal to from 0 to 3 inclusive, below atmospheric pressures to a temperature which is sufficient to produce a mixture consisting essentially of (A) said silylorganocarbamate, (B) said silylorganoisocyanate and (C) an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (2) continuously distilling said mixture of 1) to provide for the continuous separation of overhead product consisting essentially of (B) and (C) and, (3) recovering (B) from said overhead product of (2) 2. A method of claim 1 for making trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate, which comprises l) heating methyl-N-trimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate below atmospheric pressures to a temperature which is sufficient to produce a mixture consisting essentially of(A) methyl-N-trimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate (B) trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate and (C) methanol, (2) continuously distilling said mixture of (l) to provide for the separation of overhead product consisting essentially of (B) and (C) and, (2) recovering (B) from said overhead product of (2 3. A method of claim 1 for making methyldimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate, which comprises (1) heating methyl-N- methyldimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate below atmospheric pressure to a temperature which is sufficient to produce a mixture consisting essentially of (A) methyl-N-methyldimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate (B) methyldimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate and (C) methanol, (2) continuously distilling said mixture of (l) 68 to provide for the separation of overhead product consisting essentially of (B) and (C) and (3) recovering (B) from said overhead product of(2 

2. A method of claim 1 for making trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate, which comprises (1) heating methyl-N-trimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate below atmospheric pressures to a temperature which is sufficient to produce a mixture consisting essentially of (A) methyl-N-trimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate (B) trimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate and (C) methanol, (2) continuously distilling said mixture of (1) to provide for the separation of overhead product consisting essentially of (B) and (C) and, (2) recovering (B) from said overhead product of (2).
 3. A method of claim 1 for making methyldimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate, which comprises (1) heating methyl-N-methyldimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate below atmospheric pressure to a temperature which is sufficient to produce a mixture consisting essentially of (A) methyl-N-methyldimethoxysilylpropylcarbamate (B) methyldimethoxysilylpropylisocyanate and (C) methanol, (2) continuously distilling said mixture of (1) 68 to provide for the separation of overhead product consisting essentially of (B) and (C) and (3) recovering (B) from said overhead product of (2). 